Story gathers lots of assists for Edmonton minor hockey player

Alex McFarlane, 16, started playing organized hockey this season. He is from a single-parent family, had to get second-hand equipment to play, and takes the bus and LRT to get to games and practices like this one at Westwood Arena. Video by Ed Kaiser, Edmonton Journal

“It’s so honouring,” said McFarlane, an honours student at Ross Sheppard High School. “I’m just being me by doing this and wanting to play that much. I never thought what I was doing was making a difference, but I truly can’t believe all the wonderful people who have reached out. This day has truly been unbelievable.”

McFarlane worked a part-time job to pay his hockey registration fees, got old equipment from the 1990s from his uncle, and took public transit to and from games and practices because his family doesn’t own a car.

Alex McFarlane with his mother, Heather. The story of Alex’s devotion to hockey, and the lengths he has gone to play the game, drew widespread reaction.Ed Kaiser /
Edmonton Journal

“It’s really been inspiring to me,” said McFarlane’s mother, Heather. “Alex is really starting to see all of the kindness that he puts into this world come back to him.

“We told him anything he wanted in this world he had to work for and he’s grown up with that mentality. It’s so amazing to see so many people are behind him. I’m so proud of him.”

When people started to hear about McFarlane’s story, e-mails, tweets, phone calls were made by complete strangers offering help. One caller wants to give him rides to games during Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week, many are willing to provide Edmonton Oilers tickets — including Oilers defenceman Andrew Ference and an season-ticket holder who now lives in Florida, and CCM wants to supply McFarlane with new equipment, a helmet and sticks.

McFarlane had set a goal of earning enough money to purchase a ticket for the Oilers’ final game at Rexall Place. Now he has several offers to sort through to help him live that dream.

Five-time Olympic gold-medallist Hayley Wickenheiser, one of the best female hockey players in the world, tweeted out her support for McFarlane and many people left messages on social media. Here are a couple of responses:

— Lisa Maree Kimmerly-Hughson: “I just read this a third time and still brought tears to my eyes. I hope and pray that I am bringing up my children to be as determined as you Alex …”

— Mike Smith: “Amazing!!! This was me my whole childhood and never got that chance till in my 20s Way to go Alex!!!”

“I’ve had tears in my eyes all afternoon,” said John Saxton, McFarlane’s head coach. “I’ve been very touched by a lot of the phone calls and e-mails I’ve received in regards to Alex.

“When you hear about all the stuff going on in this world and you are able to be around a kid like Alex, he puts everything into perspective.”

When the Northwest Zone minor hockey association first learned about Alex’s situation, the directors chipped in to get him better equipment. Now the group is looking to start a fund in McFarlane’s name to help him with any other extra costs in his hockey journey. The Northwest Zone also plans to keep the fund going in the future to help other children facing similar challenges.

“So many people have come forward, and Alex is an amazing kid, and if we can help other kids like him throughout all of this, that’s the goal,” said Northwest Zone director Jim Williamson. “People can be really jaded, but this shows how great our community is and how much they want to come together to help others.”

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